Wednesday, April 15, 2020

The USA Congress needs to mandate "contact tracing."

This needs to be a function of the federal government with Congressional oversight and frequent reporting to determine how COVID-19 is being CONTAINED.

April 10, 2020
By Nicole Wetman

During an infectious disease outbreak, (click here) one of the best tools public health experts have is old-school detective work: finding each sick person and then figuring out who they recently interacted with. The technique, called contact tracing, helps get outbreaks of diseases like COVID-19 under control.

In order to lift social distancing measures like school closures and “stay home” orders, public health agencies will have to start aggressively contact tracing and at a much higher level than they were a few months ago.

That will keep new cases of the virus from growing into new outbreaks. The US can only relax stay-at-home orders and social distancing policies if it’s doing enough contact tracing to catch new outbreaks before they explode.

Contact tracing is based on an obvious idea: people in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 are at risk of getting sick. The process isn’t easy. When a person gets sick, they are then interviewed by public health officials and asked who has been exposed to them. Then they take that list and fan out to ask those people either to pay close attention to how they’re feeling or to quarantine. If a person who was exposed is infected, their recent contacts will be tracked down, too. The process continues until everyone who’s been exposed is out of circulation. That stops virus transmission....
Trump complains constantly with the Democrats. The problem with the COVID response belongs to the White House. Why should Congress approve more monies to this effort if there is no oversight?

The nominee for the Assistant Secretary of Agriculture was only made in March 2020.

Brandon Lipps, of Texas, (click here) to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services.


Latest Action

  • 01/06/2020 - Received in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Date Received from President

  • 01/06/2020

Committee


  • Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Trump needs to take responsibility for his poor response to the COVID-19 national health crisis. Every other country in the world has had a response better than the USA.



No one forgot the Midwest when it comes to the internet.

Any problem with students having access to their lessons on the internet is owned by their parents. If they don't have internet, which can be very expensive into the home, they might have a phone that can serve as a "hot spot" and allow any screen to be a teaching screen. 

In the country where parents do not have internet access of a phone that can be used as a "hot spot", the schools have packed up the lessons and books into large envelopes with the student's name on the envelope. Then the student and family can come one at a time in a lobby to pick up the lessons FOR THE WEEK.

Honestly. There was a large sale of broadband that the federal government-owned during the Obama years.

Joe Biden is proving to be the de facto nominee of the Democratic Party. It is obvious that Trump intends to use every second of time in front of the public to carry out destructive politics, including during the pandemic. Every policy that President Obama championed with the Congress will be ridiculed by Trump politiccs.

March 9, 2016

Delivering on the Promise of Broadband & Access to Technology for All Americans (click here)

Connectivity is a path to greater opportunity. In today’s world, broadband and fluency with technology fuel economic growth, provide access to the world’s knowledge, promote skill development, and build stronger and more connected communities.

During President Obama’s seven years in office, we’ve seen unprecedented gains in wiring our nation for the future, including a tripling of the average home Internet speed, covering 98 percent of Americans with fast 4G/LTE mobile broadband, and doubling the number of schools connected to high-speed Internet.  As a result, we’ve seen a technology sector that spans coast to coast, the creation of millions of high-paying jobs, and a revolution in the way students learn in the classroom.

To further our efforts, and to ensure that low-income Americans can seize the opportunities of the digital age, President Obama is unveiling ConnectALL, an initiative to help Americans from across the country, at every income level, get online and have the tools to take full advantage of the Internet. Today, the Administration is submitting its recommendation that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reform a $1.5 billion per year Reagan-era phone subsidy program to turn it into a 21st Century national broadband subsidy to help low-income Americans get online. Alongside this FCC filing, the Administration is releasing a new study on the economic importance of broadband and calling for nonprofits, businesses, technology experts, and Government to join a national effort to reach the ConnectALL goal of connecting 20 million more Americans to broadband by 2020....

The States are not responsible for research for tests nor the production of them in sufficient amounts to test the country.

The funding for developing and producing tests is in the treasury of the USA government. All those funds were noT distributed to the states. I chose the website of Congressman Panetta because it clearly highlights the first bill passed by Congress.

The first bill ever passed by Congress to address the health emergency in the country clearly has SEPARATE funding for federal and state efforts.

More than $3 billion for research and development of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics;

The bill clearly states there is a SEPARATE funding for states and the federal government. The $950 million assigned to the states is to support the agencies hardest hit by this national health emergency. But, those $950 million have no designation in the bill that the states are to find their own testing solution and manufacture it. If that was the case then what the heck is Trump doing with the $2.2 billion SPECIFICALLY assigned to prevention, preparedness and response and the $3 billion for R&D of vaccines, therapeutics, and DIAGNOSTICS?

$2.2 billion in public health funding for prevention, preparedness, and response, $950 million of which is to support state & local health agencies;

The federal government is responsible for developing a test for SARS-CoV-2. The federal government is responsible for manufacturing the tests (preparedness) and the federal government is responsible for the distribution of the tests (response). The states have limited funds to respond to this national emergency and there is no responsibility of the states to conduct R&D. That would be counter-productive. The states would have to establish labs and pay staff to carry out that responsibility. EVERY STATE. There would be 50 state labs, 50 staff, and 50 outcomes. And at no time is any ONE successful state responsible for the federal distribution of a test.
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March 4, 2020 
Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) (click here) voted for an emergency supplemental appropriations bill to address the coronavirus outbreak. The bill includes funding for testing, vaccine development, treatments, and support for state and local preparedness. The legislation passed on a 415-2 vote.

Among its provisions, the emergency supplemental includes:
  • More than $3 billion for research and development of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics;
  • $2.2 billion in public health funding for prevention, preparedness, and response, $950 million of which is to support state & local health agencies;
  • Nearly $1 billion for procurement of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, to support healthcare preparedness and Community Health Centers, and to improve medical surge capacity;
  • $435 million to support health systems overseas to prevent, prepare, and respond to the coronavirus;
  • $300 million to respond to humanitarian needs;
  • $61 million to facilitate the development and review of medical countermeasures, devices, therapies, and vaccines, and to help mitigate potential supply chain interruptions; and
  • Allows for an estimated $7 billion in low-interest loans to affected small businesses.
The emergency supplemental also contains other strong provisions to ensure a full response and keep Americans safe. The bill: 
  • Requires that funds are only used to fight the coronavirus and other infectious diseases;
  • Allows seniors to access telemedicine services for coronavirus treatment;
  • Helps ensure that vaccines and treatments for coronavirus are affordable; and
  • Ensures that state and local governments are reimbursed for costs incurred while assisting the federal response.
The Executive Branch of the federal government ANSWERS to all the states when it comes to testing, producing them and distributing them.
Governor Whitmer is in a very tough position in anything she tries to do for Michigan because the state has a Republican majority in the House and Senate. They want to protect Snyder and return a Republican governor to Michigan. It is unfortunate Michigan does not have a House and Senate with Democratic majorities because Whitmer is a great governor.

I think it is fine to make observations to the governor in what someone believes might be short-sighted, but, whatever happened to the fact the state executive knows more than the legislature?

No one wants a successful economy more than Governor Whitmer. She knows all to well the effects of the migration of jobs out of Michigan to places like Mexico. She also knows the Michigan economy. She knows how much tourism (click here) is vital to Michigan. But, realizing all that she is still seeing a tight control of citizen movement to prevent further cases of COVID-19.

If the economy opens this summer, by June or the 4th of July, Michigan has to have control of the virus. People won't travel if they feel threatened by reports of the virus still lingering. So, I believe Governor Whitmer knows what she is doing and no one really has the responsibility she has today or tomorrow.

April 14, 2020
By Kaathleen Achtenberg

LANSING, Mich. – New economic assistance for small businesses, (click here) early stage tech companies and communities around Michigan negatively impacted by the COVID-19 virus gained approval from the Michigan Strategic Fund, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced today.

“We are committed to leveraging every resource available to us as effectively as we can to support small businesses, entrepreneurs, communities and workers across the state being negatively affected by this unprecedented outbreak,” said MEDC CEO Mark A. Burton. “The initiatives approved today by the Michigan Strategic Fund will provide much-needed resources for small businesses and early stage tech companies facing challenges with cash flow and communities working to support and protect their residents.”...

DNA?

Mouth swabs are used for paternity tests. I haven't found the science behind the test, but, it is most probably patented. Congratulations, Rutgers! It is a really great state university on multiple campuses.

April 15, 2020
By Lisette Voytko

The first U.S. coronavirus saliva testing (click here) site opens Wednesday in New Jersey after the Food and Drug Administration granted emergency authorization for the method, which healthcare experts say is quicker, more scalable and safer to administer as the virus continues to spread across the country....

...The saliva test developed by Rutgers is available in New Jersey’s RWJBarnabas healthcare system and a number of hospitals. The drive-thru testing site is located in Edison, New Jersey, at a local DMV inspection bay. As of Wednesday morning, Fanning said his firm could supply one million saliva tests per month, and could scale up to 5 million in the near future....